The Apostle Bartolomew, Cretan, signed Emmanuel Tzanes, 17th century

painted on a gold ground, the Apostle is shown full-length holding the closed Gospels and a dagger, the background with a mountainous wooden landscape, an Italianate church on the right, the lower border with the gilt Latin inscription 'Emmanuel Zane Sazerdos (D)epinxit'

Sotheby's London, 18th November 1999, lot 312

In general good condition, some minor wear especially to the gold background, consistent with age
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The majority of the signed icons by Emmanuel Tzanes are done so in Greek. Beside the offered lot, other examples of icons signed in Latin by Tzanes are: the Flight into Egypt in the Andreadis Collection, Athens, and the Hodegetria (dated 1645) in the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Giudecca. (For a complete list of those works known to be by Tzanes, see M. Chatzidakis and E. Drapoloukos, Greek Icon Painters 1450-1830, Athens, 1997, pp.504-423 

Emmanuel Tzanes, along with Theodore Poulakis, is considered to be one of the most important Cretan painters of the 17th century. He was born in Rethymnon, Crete circa 1610 and after the fall of the island to the Ottomans in 1646 he first sought refuge on the island of Corfu, where he was active until 1655 when he moved to Venice where he is recorded as being a priest of the Greek Church of St. George from 1659 until 1685. He died there in 1690.

The icon of Saint Bartholomew is typical of Tzanes's work, with its combination of his characteristically refined traditional technique- in particular the calligraphic precision in rendering the flesh areas- and the extensive use of elements derived from western prototypes.